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USA: Gay and transgender discrimination in the public sector

12 September 2012

There are approximately 1 million gay or transgender individuals in America today working in state, local, or municipal government. A new report shows that when lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender public workers experience on-the-job discrimination, it isn’t only the workers who suffer, but taxpayers, too.

A new report by AFSCME and the Center for American Progress (CAP) shows that when lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) public workers experience on-the-job discrimination, it isn’t only the workers who suffer, but taxpayers, too.

The report states that many gay and transgender public-sector employees arrive at work each day fearing that they may lose their job due to discrimination. Moreover, these workers often have little or no legal recourse when discrimination occurs. Research and data reveal that gay and transgender employees experience rates of discrimination on the job comparable to other protected groups, but they lack the same legal protections afforded to those groups.

Rather than being evaluated on their skills, qualifications, and ability to contribute on the job, gay and transgender workers are all too often not hired, not promoted, or,in the worst cases, fired from their jobs based solely on their sexual orientation and gender identity—characteristics completely irrelevant to job performance. Sadly, forgay and transgender workers discrimination results in significant job insecurity and makes it more difficult for them to make ends meet and provide for their families.

Government employers who discriminate have a harder time recruiting and retaining the best workers, according to the report, as they suffer from diminished workplace productivity. They expose themselves to costly litigation. In short, discrimination against LGBT workers makes government inefficient, which, in the end, costs taxpayers.

Download summary of the report Gay and Transgender Discrimination in the Public Sector.

Download the full report Gay and Transgender Discrimination in the Public Sector.

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Public Services International is a global trade union federation representing 20 million working women and men who deliver vital public services in 150 countries. PSI champions human rights, advocates for social justice and promotes universal access to quality public services. PSI works with the United Nations system and in partnership with labour, civil society and other organisations.